Mail-bag catcher and deliverer.



R. R. HBDGPETH. MAIL BAG GA'IOHER AND DELIVERER. APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1908. RENEWED MAR. 26, 1909.

Patented May 4, 1909.

mums-sum 1.

R. R. HEDGPBTH.

MAIL BAG GATGHER AND DHLIVEREB.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 190B. nnmzwnn IAB. 2a, 1909.

920,568, Patented May 4, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ROBERT R. HEDGPETH, OF PHOENIX, ARIZONA TERRITORY.

LIAIL-BAG CATCHER AND DELIVERER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1909.

Application filed July 24, 1908, Serial No. 445,218. Renewed March 26, 1909. Serial No. 486,026.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT E. Hnncrn'rn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Phoenix, in the county of Maricopa and Territory of Arizona, have invented new and useful lmprovements in Mail-Bag Catchers and Deliverers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mail bag catchers and deliverers, and one of the principal objects of the same is to provide simple and ellicient devices for taking up a mail bag from a station and depositing a pouch at the same time from a moving train, said devices comprising a turn table mounted to rotate upon a post and an arm projecting outward from a car to strike an uprighton the turn table for throwing a bag or pouch into the car door and depositing a bag upon the table simultaneously.

Another object of the invention is to pro v vide means for holding a mail bag or pouch upon an arm projecting outward from the car, said arm having a hinged member held in one position by a latch which is released by striking the upright on the turn table.

These and other objects may be attained by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the catcher and deliverer and a longitudinal sectional View of one side of a mail car at a point near the door opening thereof, said view showing one position of the device just prior to striking one of the uprights on the turn table. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating another position of the turn table after one of the uprights has been struck by the arm from the car, and showing in dotted lines a pouch thrown into the door of the car and another deposited upon the table. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the outer end of the de livery arm and the latch for holding it in one of its positions. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view, showing the ball bearings upon which the turn table is mounted.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a post driven into the ground at the roper distance at one side of a railroad trac r, and 2 are the braces for said post. At the upper end of the post a bracket 3 is secured, said bracket having a cylindrical bearing member 4 projecting therefrom.

The turn table comprises an upper member 5 and a lower member 6, said members being substantially circular in plan, and said two members being secured together with the grains crossing to prevent splitting or injury to the table in use. Secured in a recess in the bottom of said members by means of screws 7 is a ball bearing plate 8 having an annular groove 9 in the face thereof. A similar plate 10 is secured to the bracket, 3 and is also provided with an annular ball groove 11. The bearing balls 12 are placed in the grooves 9 and 11 on which the table rotates. The member 4 extends through the plates 8 and 10 and through the turn table, said parts being secured together by a nut 13 engaging a reduced portion 14 projecting from the member 4. On top of the table is a suitable frame comprising bars 15 which provide an inclosure or compartment 16 within said frame and two compartments 17 outside the frame, said compartments being separated by a partition 18. Upright members 19 are secured to the top of the table, said upright members being suitably braced by bars 20.

Connected to screw eyes 21 secured to the sides of the car near the door opening 22 is an arm 23 said arm and plates 24 secured at top and bottom thereof, said plates having downwardly extending lingers 25 which engage the eyes 21 on the car. A suitable latch 26 is hinged to an eye 27 on the car, the outer end of the latch engaging a staple 28 at the side of the arm 23. The delivery arm 23 is provided at its outer end with a hinged member 29 connected to said arm by the hinge 30. On the upper side of the member 29 is a plate 31 having an inwardly extending finger 32. The member 23 is provided with a plate 31* having upwardly extending fingers 32 which are disposed upon opposite sides of the plate 31 when engaged by the toe 33 of a latch 34 pivoted at 35 to the arm 23, said latch having a projecting arm 36 which normally extends away from the arm 23, when the toe 33 engages the fingers 32 and 32 to hold a mail bag on the member 29.

The operation may be briefly described as follows :The arm 23 carrying a mail bag a on the member 29 is swung from the car into the position shown in Fig. 1, and the latch 26 is engaged with the staple 23 to hold the arm in position. When the member 36 of the latch 34 comes into contact with one of the uprights 19 of the turn table, the latch is swung upon its pivotal point to release the fingers 32 and 32 to permit the member 29 to drop or swing downward upon its hinge to deposit the pouch d in the compartment 16 of the turn table. A mail pouch b which has been placed in one of the compartments 17 of the turn table at the station is thrown by the centrifugal force of the turn table into the door opening 22 in the car, as shown in Fig. 2.

My invention may be connected to either side of a car and upon either side of the door opening, depending upon the direction which the car is taking in its route.

My invention is simple in construction, will operate smoothly and etficiently for its purpose, and can be quickly installed for use.

I claim 1. A mail bag catcher and deliverer comprising a rotatable turn table mounted upon a post at the side of a track and provided with uprights, an arm projecting from the car and provided with a hinged member for carrying a mail bag, a latch for holding said hinged member in position to hold the bag, said latch having an arm extending in the path of one of the uprights to be struck thereby to release the bag and drop it upon the table, said table having a compartment for containing a bag or pouch to be thrown into the car door by the centrifugal force of the turn table.

2. A mail bag catcher and deliverer com prising a rotatable turn table, an arm projecting outward from the car, means for securing a mail bag to said arm, means for releasing said bag in passing the turn table, and means for throwing a pouch or bag on to the car by the centrifugal force of the turn table.

3. A mail bag catcher and deliverer comprising a turn table mounted upon ball bear ings on a post, uprights extending from the face of said turn table, an arm hinged to the side of the car, a member hinged to the outer end of said arm, means for holding said member in position to carry a mail bag, and means released by one of the uprights on the table for depositing the bag in passing the table.

In testimony whereof I afHX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT E. HEDGPETH.

Witnesses J. W. Esoor'r, E. F. YOUNG. 

